Why invest in
Real Estate in Victoria, BC? Why invest in
Real Estate in British Columbia or any other province? The answer is simple, it is one of the best investment you can make.
First of all if you purchase a property as your principal residence you provide shelter for you and your family. If you have life insurance on your mortgage and if something did happen to you, your family has a home that is paid off. When you go to sell your principal residence, and say you have made a $300,000 profit, this money/profit is tax free. This is a great thing particularily with todays advancing house prices in Victoria
.
If you look back at how the Real Estate prices have increased
since 1978 it is pretty incredible, for your convenience we also have it in a
graph format thanks to Victoria Real Estate Board.
A recent article in the
Times Colonist by Carla Wilson looks at Real Estate prices over the last decade. It reads:
Real estate prices skyrocket, returns rise over past decade
The last decade in Greater Victoria’s real estate market delivered an average 7.8 per cent annual compounded rate of return, said a report from real estate company Re/Max.
Across Canada, the rate was lower at 7.1 per cent, but showed average home prices nearly doubled from $154,606 in 1997 to $307,265 last year. The total number of sales also rose, topping 500,000 in 2007 compared with 331,092 in 1997.
Last month, the average selling price of a house in Greater Victoria was $606,449, with a median price of $530,200. The Multiple Listing Service shows seven properties listed at more than $14.5 million
B.C. prices rose most significantly in the past five years, Elton Ash, executive regional vice-president of Re/Max in western Canada, said yesterday. He anticipates a more balanced market in 2008, resulting in an average increase of about seven per cent.
“Immigration and in-migration have played a serious role in jump-starting residential housing markets, particularly in B.C., Alberta and, to some extent, Saskatchewan over the past decade,” Ash said. Economic strength, low interest rates, low unemployment and consumer confidence have all driven sales.
As prices went up, “There has been huge movement by investors to buy condominiums either to hold for the short term or long term,” he said. The average selling price of a Greater Victoria condominium last month was $349,045, with a median price of $326,904.
Dunnery Best, managing director, portfolio manager and investment adviser with CIBC Wood Gundy in Victoria, recommends taking into account expenses such as taxes, insurance, maintenance and improvements when looking at property value increases.
“If the average goes up by 7.8 per cent, the fact is in many cases you are not netting that.”
Although homes are an important part of many people’s investment portfolios, they should remember that, despite strength in local real estate, markets can also go the other direction for a sustained period, he said. Also, a property may be difficult to sell or not bring in an expected price.
In addition, “the environment of declining interest rates is over,” Best said. He warned that extrapolating from the past decade to the next decade is “faulty logic.”
Although Tony Joe, Victoria Real Estate Board president, would have preferred a bigger move, he said the province’s decision, announced this week, to increase the property purchase tax exemption to $425,000 from $375,000 helps make homes more affordable. It may allow qualifying buyers to spend money on improvements or needed items for their home.
First-time homebuyers in B.C. are choosing condominiums at close to double the rate of buyers elsewhere in Canada, said a report released yesterday by Genworth Financial.
An average of 14 per cent of British Columbians surveyed said they had either bought a condo or were planning to do so.
“The condo markets in Vancouver and Victoria remain vibrant — both cities are estimated to have posted record-high starts volumes in 2007. Condos are filling the need for relatively affordable housing in the province where available land for new home construction is limited …,” said Genworth president Peter Vukanovich. First-time condo buyers in B.C. can expect to pay the highest rate in the country, the report said.
In Greater Victoria, condominium prices range widely, from about $55,000 for fractional ownership typically of vacation units, to more than $1 million for luxury homes.
When it comes to buying condos, out-of-town buyers often prefer the downtown or Songhees near the harbour, while local residents are likely to buy in buildings such as the Strathmore in Langford, said Re/Max Camosun real estate agent Guy Crozier. “We find that our buyers tend to be more local young people getting into the market,” he said.
Remaining units in the Strathmore include a loft for under $300,000. Some buyers are downsizing from larger homes and want features such as granite countertops and hardwood floors, Crozier said.
End of article. Carla Wilson can be reached at
cjwilson@tc.canwest.comIf you have any comments on the above or Real Estate questions please drop us a
note.
Cheers
BillBill Ethier B.Sc - REALTOR®
Properties in Victoria Professionals - Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
Bill has been a REALTOR® in Victoria since 2006. Originally from the Vancouver area, Bill moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria where he received his Bachelor of Science. Not only does Bill have a wealth of real estate knowledge he is also an active member of the community. He is a member of Triple Shot Cycling Club, Island Road Racers and is the Race Director for the Sooke River 10K.
One of Mill Spring's finest homes, this exceptional 3 level home sits high up on a .72 acre lot to take advantage of the panoramic ocean vistas highlighted by Mt Baker, Saltspring Island, Saanich Inlet & beyond. Long private driveway leads up through the lot to a huge triple garage and main level living featuring a wonderful kitchen and living room with high ceilings and massive windows to take in the views. Seperate formal dining room adjacent to main level family room too. Up are 3 well appointed bedrooms, [office on main could be 4th], & 2 ensuites, a second family room down. Lots of storage. Very private. Easy commute to either Duncan or Victoria. 
